Interior Japan & Samurai Trail Extension
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Dates:
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Explore the ruggedly mountainous interior of Japan with us on this 9 day pickleball adventure! The prefectures of Tochigi and Nagano are characterized by stunning natural landscapes, age-old Shinto shrines, peculiar sights such as the hot-spring-loving snow monkeys, and uniquely regional gastronomy. We finish the tour in Osaka and Kyoto, two major cultural hubs of Japan. This insider experience also features plenty of pickleball instruction and play with locals at our local guides’ favorite Japanese venues, where most tourists never set foot.
Trip Details
What’s Included
- 10 nights at mid-range accommodations
- All meals excluding 2 dinners and 2 lunches
- All activities including, tours, entrance fees, pickleball clinics and transportation within Japan
What’s Not Included
- Airfare to/from Narita Int’l Airport (NRT) or from Osaka Int’l Airport (KIX)
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Travel insurance, medical coverage, etc.
Maximum Group Size 16
Activity Level 5/10
Accommodations
Onyado Tsutaya (Samurai Trails Extension)
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An idyllic, 320+ year old inn surrounded by the history of the old Kiso Highway, Onyado Tsutaya has a long history of providing guests with a relaxing experience. The natural hot springs baths originate from the sacred mountain, Ontake which is believed by locals to possess the spirit of the earth. Enjoy the seasonal cuisine in a beautiful, small town atmosphere which has preserved the calm, charming spirit of old Japan.
- This 4-Star accommodation, which is only minutes from Narita Int’l Airport (NRT) is the perfect meeting point and location to begin our Japanese adventure.
Fairfield by Marriott Tochigi Utsunomiya
- Stay at Fairfield Tochigi Utsunomiya and enjoy all the fun experiences this area has to offer. Our hotel provides an opportunity to explore destinations outside of the popular cities in Japan. Let us be your base camp for relaxation and rest in an ideal location for remote working in Tochigi Utsunomiya.
- Biyu no Yado is a traditional, Japanese-style inn nestled in the mountains of Nagano, which takes full advantage of the areas natural blessing of hot springs. Stay with us to rejuvenate your mind, body, and soul.
- Conveniently located in Osaka’s bustling Minami district, this 4-star western-style accommodation is the perfect starting point for shopping, dining, transportation and of course pickleball.
Trip instructors
Itinerary
ARRIVAL IN JAPAN (SAMURAI TRAIL EXTENSION)
- Arrive in Kiso Fukushima
- Check into traditional Japanese-style ‘ryokan’ Onyado Tsutaya
- Walk a section of the Nakasendo Way
- Dinner and hot spring at accommodation
MAGOME ~ TSUMAGO
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Train and bus to Magome Village (~1:30 hrs)
- Walk 4.5 mi (7 km) from Magome Village to Tsumago Village (~2:30 hrs)
- Late lunch in Tsumago Village
- Return to accommodation
- Dinner at local Kiso Fukushima restaurant
KAIDA KOGEN & PICKLEBALL
- Breakfast at traditional acommodation
- Drive to base of Karasawa Waterfall (~0:20 hrs)
- Hike around 2 mi (3km) from Jizo Pass into Kaida Kogen (~2:00 hrs)
- Lunch at forest cafe with food and entertainment
- Walk past Kiso horse pastures and dairy farm
- Return to Kiso Fukushima (~0:30 hrs)
- Private Pickleball Trips clinic (~3:00 hrs)
- Finale dinner at sumo-style ‘Chanko Nabe’ hotpot restaurant
KISO-FUKUSHIMA ~ NARITA
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Depart for Narita (~5:00 hrs)
ARRIVAL IN JAPAN
- Please book your airfare to/from Narita Int’l Airport (NRT) outside Tokyo*
- Transfer to Hotel Nikko Narita
- Meet in hotel lobby at 7:30 PM to depart for welcome dinner/tour orientation
NARITA ~ TOCHIGI
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Travel to Sakura City, Tochigi Prefecture. (~2:30 hrs) by private vehicle
- BBQ at pickleball venue followed by play with local players (~3:00 hrs)
- Transfer to Utsunomiya (~0:30 hrs) and check into Fairfield by Marriott
- Local-specialty, potsticker dinner
PICKLEBALL | NIKKO
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Return to Sakura City (~0:30 hrs) for private Pickleball Trips clinic (~2:00 hrs)
- Travel to Nikko (~0:45 hrs) for lunch/sightseeing
- Return to Utsunomiya (~1:00 hrs) for dinner
TOCHIGI ~ MEGAMIKO
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Travel to Megamiko (~3:00 hrs) for lunch/pickleball with with local players (~3:00 hrs)
- Homemade dinner at Mori no Kobito Lodge followed by a campfire in the woods
MEGAMIKO ~ SHIBU ONSEN
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Optional morning open-play in Megamiko (~2:00 hrs)
- Travel to Nagano City (~1:30 hrs) for lunch at Fujiya Gohonjin French-Japanese fusion and a visit to Zenkoji Temple
- Travel to Yudanaka (~0:45 hrs) and check into Ryokan Biyu no Yado
- Walk around the historic hot springs village of Shibu Onsen followed by ‘Kaiseki’ style banquet dinner at accommodation
NAGANO PICKLEBALL DAY
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Private Pickleball Trips Clinic (~2:00 hrs) followed by lunch at local restaurant
- Pickleball with local club members and dinner at restaurant in Nagano
SNOW MONKEYS | SOBA-MAKING | HOT SPRINGS
- Breakfast at local restaurant
- Walk through a serene forest to the world-famous Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park (~0:30 hrs
each way) - Soba-making experience at traditional Japanese farmhouse for lunch followed by ‘washi’ paper making
- Drive to Maguse Onsen hot spring with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains
(0:20 hrs) - Sake tasting and Dinner at the Farmhouse Taproom
SHIBU ONSEN ~ OSAKA
- Early morning departure for Osaka with breakfast on the train (~5:00 hrs)
- Check into Hotel Nikko Osaka
- Free afternoon in Osaka with dinner in Dotonbori nightlife district
KYOTO
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Travel to Kyoto (~1:00 hrs) for all-day sightseeing excursion including Nanzenji Temple, The Philosopher’s Path, The Silver Pavilion, and Fushimi Inari Shrine
- Return to Osaka for dinner on your own in the city
OSAKA CASTLE | PICKLEBALL
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Visit Osaka Castle
- Lunch on your own followed by a private Pickleball Trips clinic (~2:00 hrs) and play with locals (~2:00 hrs)
- Banquet-style finale dinner and entertainment with local players
END OF TOUR
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Depart for Kansai Int’l Airport (KIX), Narita Int’l Airport (NRT), or onward destination**
Please note that the itinerary is subject to modifications between now and the dates of the tour.
*Travelers from North America will likely need to depart on the 12th to arrive in Japan on the 13th)
***Travelers from North America will likely need to depart on the 22nd to arrive in Japan on the 23rd or the 25th to arrive on the 26th
Purchase your trip:
Cancellation Policy
| CANCELLATION | REFUND AMOUNT |
| 91+ Days Prior to Start Date | Full Refund Minus 20% Nonrefundable Deposit* |
| 61 ~ 90 Days Prior to Start Date | 50% Refund of Total Trip Cost |
| 31 ~ 60 Days Prior to Start Date | 25% Refund of Total Trip Cost |
| 0 ~ 30 Days Prior to Start Date | None (20% Deposit Transferable) |
Cancellation policy effective for all new trip purchases after 6/9/21.
Travel Insurance
We strongly encourage all travelers to invest in travel insurance to both minimize your financial risks of traveling and provide you with peace of mind to fully enjoy the your trip. Travel insurance can provide many helpful resources including refunds or assistance for any of the following situations that may arise before or during a trip:
- You need to cancel your participation on the tour
- You need to cancel or change a flight
- Lost baggage during the trip
- Stolen items during the trip
- Medical costs during the trip
We suggest you talk to your insurance provider to ask about the travel insurance plans available to you. You can also compare policies online. Here are two well-known travel insurance providers to consider:
Travelex Travel Insurance
Travel Guard
You can also use InsureMyTrip.com to compare multiple companies’ plans.
